Meeting arranged over waste service problems

A GROUP of Labour Party councillors is to meet the Dublin city manager today to discuss issues arising from the transfer of waste collection services from Dublin City Council to private operator Greyhound.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague said the delegation would be seeking clarity on the new payment system, which had caused “significant worry and hardship” to many city dwellers.

Greyhound, which took over the service on Monday, has said householders must pay a €100 annual charge by February 15th if their bins are to be collected.

A number of public representatives have called for a facility to be put in place whereby householders can pay the €100 annual charge on a staggered basis, as was the case previously.

Mr Montague said the Labour group would also be seeking clarity from city manager John Tierney about arrears on bin charges owed to Dublin City Council that Greyhound has now been instructed to pursue.

“If somebody pays the €100 charge, will their bins not be collected because they owe Dublin City Council money or does the payment override it?” he asked.

A Greyhound spokesman said the annual payment and arrears would be dealt with separately.

Fianna Fáil councillors yesterday called for an emergency sitting of the council over the waste collection “crisis”.

A Greyhound spokesman said there had been “no missed collections” but changes to the collection dates may have caused customers confusion in some cases.